Identification of D segments of immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes and their rearrangement in T lymphocytes.
The finding that the diversity (D) and joining (JH) but not the variable (VH) DNA segments of mouse immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes are joined in the DNA of some cloned cytolytic T cells, led to identification and sequencing of three different D DNA segments. Two segments identified on the embryo DNA carry on both the 5' and 3' sides two sets of characteristic sequences separated by a 12-base pair spacer, which have been implicated as recognition signals for a recombinase. The third segment, identified in a form joined with a JHDNA segment in a T cell, carries the recognition signal on the 5' side. These results support the 12/23-base pair model for somatic generation of immunoglobulin V genes, and rule out the possibility that the cytolytic T cells use assembled VH, D and JH sequences to encode their antigen receptors.
D000818:Animals; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D001483:Base Sequence; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody / Q000235:genetics*; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell